State Court Administrator Sally Holewa
sent two letters to the Chair proposing
amendments to Rule 41 Section 5(b). The first proposed amendment, on lines 155-156,
restricts access to domestic violence protection order and disorderly conduct restraining
order cases when the initial petition is dismissed on its face without further proceedings. Ms.
Holewa believes allowing public access to the court's order of dismissal may cause harm to
the petitioner.

The second proposed amendment, on
lines 157-158, restricts access to cases brought under
N.D.C.C. ch. 14-15.1, Child Relinquishment to Identified Adoptive Parents. These cases
are commonly referred to as "voluntary relinquishments." Ms. Holewa believes these cases
should be restricted in the same manner as adoption records are restricted.

Some form and style changes have also
been proposed.

The proposed amendments to Rule 41 are attached along with a copy of
Ms. Holewa's
letters.